Liechtenstein: Princess Marie Caroline is engaged

Yesterday the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein announced the engagement between their second child and only daughter, Princess Marie Caroline and Leeopoldo Maduro Vollmer. The wedding is planned for the late summer of 2025.

H.S.H. the Hereditary Prince and H.R.H. the Hereditary Princess von und zu Liechtenstein are delighted to announce the engagement of their daughter Princess Marie Caroline to Mr Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer.

Leopoldo is the eldest son of Francisco and Sofia Maduro Vollmer, born Vollmer de Marcellus, and he was born in Caracas on 28 October 1990. He studied first at the Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola in Caracas, and then in England, at Harrow School. Leopoldo obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of St Andrews and his postgraduate degree from Queens College, University of Cambridge. He began his career in 2013, working in Investment Banking in Paris and New York, before returning to London in 2016, where he now works in Investment Management.

H.S.H. Princess Marie Caroline was born in Grabs Hospital in Switzerland on 17 October 1996, and is the second child of the Hereditary Prince and Princess. After attending the Ebenholz Primary School in Vaduz and the Swiss International School Rheintal, she completed her schooling in England, at Malvern College. Princess Marie Caroline then studied at Parsons School of Design in Paris and New York, graduating in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design. She currently lives in London and works in the fashion industry.

The wedding is planned for late summer next year.

Luxembourg: Princess Alexandra engaged to Nicolas Bagory

The Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg announced today the engagement between Princess Alexandra and Nicolas Bagory.

Fiançailles de la Princesse Alexandra avec M. Nicolas BAGORY

Leurs Altesses Royales le Grand-Duc et la Grande-Duchesse ont la très grande joie d’annoncer les fiançailles de Leur fille, Son Altesse Royale la Princesse Alexandra, avec Monsieur Nicolas BAGORY.

Né le 11 novembre 1988, Monsieur BAGORY a grandi en Bretagne. Après des études en sciences politiques et lettres classiques, il travaille aujourd’hui dans la création de projets sociaux et culturels.

Le mariage aura lieu au printemps.

Les deux familles se joignent au bonheur des fiancés en les entourant de leur affection.

Princess Alexandra, b. 1991, is the fourth child and only daughter of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg. Born 11 November 1988, Nicolas Bagory grew up in Bretagne, France. He has studied political science and linguistics at the University of Sorbonne and now works «in the creation of social and cultural projects».

Not much more about Mr. Bagory is known at present, but I am sure more details will be given in connection with the wedding, which will take place in the spring of 2023. See Wort.lu for some more details. It was certainly not a co-incidence that the engagement was made public on 7 November, exactly 42 years since the engagement of the then Hereditary Grand Duke Henri and Maria Teresa Mestre was announced.

Norway: Princess Märtha Louise engaged to marry Durek Verrett

The Norwegian Royal Court announced today the engagement between Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett:

Congratulations on their engagement

Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise and Mr. Durek Verrett announced their engagement today. Their Majesties The King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess congratulate.

Congratulations from The King and Queen

His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen extend their heartiest congratulations to Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett on the occasion of their engagement, and wish the couple all the best for their future together.

Congratulations from The Crown Prince and Crown Princess

Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess and their family extend their warmest congratulations to Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett on the occasion of their engagement. They send their best wishes to the whole family for a happy future.

Princess Märtha Louise published the following statement on her Instagram account earlier today:

I am so happy to announce that I am engaged to Shaman Durek, the one who makes my heart skip, the one who sees me and acknowledges me from my highest potential, who makes me laugh and who I can be vulnerable with. Love transcends and makes us grow. And I am so happy to continue to grow with this beautiful man.

Thank you to all my friends and family who have stood steadfast by our side [...]

The so-called Shaman Durek has also written about the engagement on Instagram:

When you know you know. There is nothing better than having clarity as a man that the woman that stands in front of you is the one. I'm overjoyed with tears that I get to spend the rest of my life with the most pure hearted, angelic, wise, powerhouse woman who represents all levels of a goddess in my eyes. Together as a soulful spiritual couple, we will use our power to support the people to create a world based in love and acceptance. Changing the world through our love. Love expands beyond all barriers and conditions. Love is free and transparent. It invites growth and foundation. It shows human beings we are more than our fears, our hate or social conditioning. Princess Märtha Louise is the love of my life. She sees all aspects of me, and I see all of her. I am a guy who loves a girl who loves me back. I get to show and demonstrate to this divine woman how much I love her for the rest of my life. I am the happiest I ever been.

[...]

Thank you to my beloved family and friends. I love you!

The date of the wedding has yet to be set.

Consent?

The Norwegian Constitution Article 36 first sentence says that «A Prince or Princess entitled to succeed to the Crown of Norway may not marry without the consent of the King.»

Other than the congratulations referred to above we have so far not received any information whether the king has given his consent to the marriage or not. Details will follow in the near future. There is no doubt that the king (and queen), given their own experiences prior to their engagement and marriage in 1968, support their children's choices and that they don't want them to go through a similar situation. Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett have their parents' and their family's blessings, but if the support also extends to a constitutional consent remains to be seen.

The headlines and the controversies surrounding Durek Verrett and his role as a self-professed shaman has followed the couple ever since their relationship became public in 2019. Given that the princess, who is no. 4 in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne, has scaled down her activities as a member of the royal family and has no central role in the future of the monarchy, the question of consent might not be that important, although a decision to not seek the king's consent and thereby lose succession rights might be looked favourably on in some quarters. Princess Märtha Louise has stated that she some time in the future wants to move to the United States, but it seems this will wait until her 3 childen have left the nest. Although Durek Verrett will become a member of the royal family following the wedding, he will have no role besides escorting his wife at some events. Most people will probably wish the couple all the best for their future together. It remains to be seen how the engagement and marriage will affect the popularity of the royal family and the monarchy. As of now the monarchy stays strong and the possibility of a republican government some time in the future will certainly be down to other reasons.

The Storting not informed

The President of the Norwegian Storting, Masud Gharahkhani has said today that he has not been informed by the Royal Palace about the engagement before the news was known. «– Given her formal status this is not something we would expect», he has been quoted as saying, besides wishing the princess and her fiancé all the best and congratulating them on the engagement. Traditionally the Storting is formally notified by letter, which will then be entered in the record of its proceedings, but the king is not required to send such a letter. I am not sure what the Storting president means when mentioning the formal status of Princess Märtha Louise. Could it be that because she ceased to be a member of the royal house in 2002 when she gave up her style of royal highness, a formal notification to the Storting has not ben deemed necessary?

Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett

Princess Märtha Louise, b. 1971, is the eldest child and only daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja, née Haraldsen. She married Ari Behn (1972–2019) in 2002 and had three daughters by him before the marriage was dissolved in 2017.

Durek David Verrett, formerly Derek David Verrett (name change in 2014), was born in Sacramento, California on 17 November 1974 as the son of David Benjamin Verrett (1929–2017) and Sheila G. Farmer, b. 1943 (also called Veruschka Urquhart (Farmer was her mother's name, Urquhart her father's adoped name). Durek's ancestry has been discussed in the Norwegian Digital Archives' users' forum.from 2019 to 2021. The claim that Durek has Norwegian ancestry on his mother's side has been disputed.

Durek Verrett was previously married to the Czech woman Zaneta Marszalkova (b. around 1984). They were married in Los Angeles, California on 2 June 2005 and were divorced on 26 February 2009 (cf. the bi-weekly magazine Se og Hør No. 22, 2022, which refers to various court documents). Ms. Marszalkova has later remarried. Durek was some time later in a relationship with a man named Hank Greenberg. Durek has a sister, Angelina, born in 1973.

Updated on Wednesday 8 June 2022 at 09.40 (corrected "self-processed" to "self-professed" in the Consent? section.

Luxembourg: Prince Louis engaged to marry Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue

The Grand-Ducal Court of Luxembourg announced today the engagement between Prince Louis, b. 1986, the third son of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, and Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue, b. 1991, the second child of Pierre Sirgue and Scarlett Berrebi.

Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue was born in Bordaux, France on 8 August 1991. She has lived in Cap Ferret, Bordaux, Switzerland, London and Paris and today works as a lawyer in the family law firm, which has offices in both Bordaux and Paris, and specializes in labour law, family law and personal injury law. Ms. Sirgue was admitted to the Paris Bar 23 years old and took the oath when she was 25. Prince Louis works for the same company. Ms. Sirgue has two siblings – Elisabeth Defforey, who is 34 years old, and Archibald Sirgue, who is 27.

Prince Louis was previously married (from 2006 to 2019, separated in 2017) to Tessy Antony (now Tessy Antony-De Nassau) and has two children by her, Prince Gabriel of Nassau, b. 2006, and Prince Noah of Nassau, b. 2007. Tessy's engagement to the Swizz businessman Frank Floessel was announced in December 2020. In February 2021 it was revealed that the couple is expecting their first baby together.

Prince Philippos of Greece to marry Nina Flohr

The office of the former King of the Hellenes today announced the engagement between Prince Philippos of Greece and Nina Nastassja Flohr. According to Hello Magazine the announcement said:

Their Majesties King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie are delighted to announce the engagement of their youngest son HRH Prince Philippos to Nina Nastassja Flohr, daughter of Thomas Flohr and Katharina Flohr.

Nina and Philippos were engaged on the island of Ithaca in Greece earlier this summer.

The details of their wedding will be announced in due course.

The website of the Royal Greek Family has not yet published the statement. Prince Philippos, b. 1986, is the youngest son and child of King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie. He is currently working as a hedge fund analyst residing in New York, while Nina Flohr, b. 1987, the daughter of the Swiss businessman Thomas Fohr and his former wife Katharina Konečný, has worked as a creative director of his dad's private jet charter company VistaJet and is currently listed as a director of Dodeca Holding Ltd.

Due to the pandemic it is still unknown when the couple will tie the knot. Prince Philippos' sister Princess Theodora was in November 2018 engaged to Matthew Kumar, but the wedding has yet to take place due to the pandemic.

Sources: See links. Some information or links has also been gathered from the message board Nobiliana.de (Greece/Flohr, EAG 2020, 1 September 2020).

UK: Intense days

It has been intense days for everyone involved – members of the British royal family and court, the media and the royalty-watching community – since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced last week that they wished to «step back as senior members of the Royal Family».

Members of the royal family – the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex – met on Monday this week to continue the discussions on finding solutions on how the more independent life for the Sussexes will look like. After the meeting the Royal Communications issued the following statement on behalf of Queen Elizabeth:

STATEMENT FROM HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family.

My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.

Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives.

It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK.

These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.

I have waited a bit before commenting on the developments. It has been many other events to write about since «the independence statement» was released, and I also thought it was a good idea to wait for more details. There was no reason to get carried away. As so often every newspaper claim to have sources close to the couple and to the other family members, and too many people seem to accept their stories as facts, especially if they fit their own views, and even if some of the stories seems very far out.

The media coverage and the discussions in the social media have been very intense and heated, and the Sussexes have received a lot of criticism, especially the Duchess, who has been labelled as the main villain. It seems to have become an established fact that the Sussexes didn't respect the Queen's request that they waited with making their decision public. It certainly showed poor judgment and disrespect to the Queen and other members of the family if that was the case. There might have been good reasons for making the decision public prematurely, but I can well understand the criticism on this point. I acknowledge how delicate the situation is, but I still feel the reactions to their decision to step back as senior members are far out of proportions. Allegations of «betrayal» etc. are really uncalled for. I also find many critical comments, especially in the social media, to be very one-sided.

I think Crown Prince Haakon of Norway put it so well when he earlier this week commented on «the Sussex drama»: – I think that everyone should «breathe with their stomach». And surely the will find good solutions.

Yes, I am personally both sad and disappointed about their decision. I think the Duke of Sussex has a great way of interacting and communicating with the public, and the Duchess and the Sussexes as a joint couple have made more than a promising start, even if there have been a few bumps in the way. One could of course have wished they waited this out a bit and that they would have overcome the challenges eventually. They clearly see it differently. And here we come to the very core: It is their life. They cannot be forced to live a life they are not happy about. In the end nothing would come out good for either parties – the royal family, the Sussexes and public. Yes, they live privileged lives, but they pay a high price for it, and they have found it to be too high and have decided for a different path.

Clearly there are complex issues to solve, and there are still many unanswered questions – about money, titles (which shouldn't be commercialised) and what kind of role they will play in the British society and abroad. Hopefully good solutions will be found.

The biggest question in my opinion is how the current and future senior members of the royal family will play their roles and how they will meet all the expectations. Most people had expected that the Sussexes would assist the Queen and her successors at least until the Cambridge kids were old enough to make engagements on their own. The number of working royals will in the future be lower, not only for natural reasons, but also because of the alleged decision to slim it down actively. How is this going to play out? The reduced number has to mean that the royal family cannot meet all the expectations and demands as today. Some changes are unavoidable, and the royals have to find their own way just like previous generations. I just hope that my reservations and feelings of uincertainty will prove me wrong.

Finally: Some people have wondered if it is now the time for the York princesses – despite the decisions of the Way Ahead Group that they should not be working royals – «to step up» to fill the gaps. But why would they wish to give up their rather independent lives now after so many years on the sideline?

UK: Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step back as senior members of the Royal Family

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released today the following statement on their official website and Instagram account:

“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family, and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge, and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.”

Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

The statement comes after the couple had taken some time off in the fall of 2019. I feel both a bit surprised and a bit sad following the news. I personally feel they are a great asset to «the Firm». The couple's relationship with the public started so well, and they are in my opinion only partly to blame for the the developments and downfall in 2019. The Duchess especially has not been treated fairly by the press or in the social media.

Obviously it is too easy to say much at present about what the new role will actually mean. The couple will still make engagements on behalf of the Queen. But the statement becomes more clouded following the press release from the Royal Communications later tonight:

Stateement on discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.

One easily get the impression that the couple had not consulted their family, or at least that the discussions were not completed, before the statement was released, and that the statement was thus premature. The couple writes, however, that «We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge, and all relevant parties.» [The italics are mine.] Either way it is of course easy to jump to conclusions, and one doesn't have to spend much time on Twitter to know that people are going into a frenzy over the news. It is perhaps a wise idea to step back for a while and wait for more details. In the end the «different approach» might bring positive changes for everyone involved. Time will show.

UK: HRH Princess Eugenie of York engaged

Buckingham Palace announced today the engagement between Princess Eugenie of York, youngest daughter of HRH The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, and Jack Brooksbank. As has become the tradition recently, the engagement was first made public on Twitter, this time via the Duke of York's account:

«The Duke and Duchess of York are delighted to announce the engagement of Princess Eugenie to Mr Jack Brooksbank.

Her Royal Highness and Mr Brooksbank became engaged in Nicaragua earlier this month. 

The wedding will take place in the Autumn of 2018 at George's Chapel in Windsor, with further details to be announced in due course.»

This will be the second wedding in the British Royal Family this year, as Prince Harry will tie the knot with Meghan Markle on 19 May 2018. As Princess Eugenie is currently no. 8 in the line of succession to the British throne, she will not need to seek the consent from her grandmother Queen Elizabeth, cf. the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 Section 3.

According to the official website, Princess Eugenie, b. 23 March 1990, has got a Combined Honours BA in English Literature, History of Art and Politics at Newcastle University in September, 2009, graduating with a 2:1 degree in 2012, and is currently working «full time in the art world», or to be more precise, she is a director at the contemporary art gallery Hauser and Wirth in London.

Eugenie and Jack has been a couple for seven years. Jack, born in 1986, the eldest child of George Brooksbank and Nicola Brooksbank, née Newton, is working in the hospitality industry. He used to be the manager of the nightclub Mahiki in Mayfair, London, and according to the Daily Express, he is now working as «the Brand Ambassador of Casamigos Tequila, the award winning brand owned by George Clooney, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman that recently sold to Diageo for $1Billion.»

The Duke of York expressed in a statement released on Twitter later today that «We are overjoyed at the news today that Eugenie and Jack have got engaged. Jack is an absolutely outstanding young man and Eugenie and he have got to know each other over a number of years, and I'm really thrilled for them.» His ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York made several tweets, first writing just «Total joy!!» as well as posting a photo of the happy couple, then she followed up with «They float with laughter and love .. although a boat helps!» paired with yet another photo of the couple, before signing off with her third tweet, saying «I always say that the river flows well to it’s destiny because of the guidance of a solid rock», with another photo to follow. In another statement, Jack Brooksbank's parents George and Nicola Brooksbank said that they were «'completely over the moon' and 'very excited' for the couple. 'We could not be more delighted with the news of the engagement».

Following the engagement, three photos were released: (1), (2) and (3). The couple later appeared on BBC The One Show for a short talk about their engagement and the private blessings from the Queen.

As for Jack Brooksbank's ancestry, the genealogist and QVD author Marlene Koenig wrote on the subject in a blog article in 2016. The article reveals that Jack has several nobles among his ancestors, including his great-great grandfather the 2nd Earl of Leicester. Editor of the blog Peerage News, Michael Rhodes, wrote today on Twitter that «The groom to be is armigerous, & descends from the Coke Earls of Leicester, as does Eugenie, and that other royal consort the late Sir Angus Ogilvy.» His blog article on the engagement can be viewed here.

Postscript 7 February 2018: It was announced on 2 February 2017 that the wedding will take place on 12 October 2018.

Updated on 7 February 2018 at 14.20 (postscript added).

UK: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle engaged

Clarence House announced today at 10 a.m. GMT the engagement between Prince Harry of Wales and Meghan Markle. The announcement said:

His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle are engaged to be married

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Henry to Ms. Methan Markle.

The wedding will take place in Spring 2018. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course.

His Royal Highness and Ms. Markle became engaged in London earlier this month. Prince Harry has informed Her Majesty The Queen and other close members of his family. Prince Harry has also sought and received the blessing of Ms. Markle's parents.

The couple will live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace.

The announcement was followed up by more tweets from Kensington palace's Twitter account and the other secretariats:

Meghan Markle's parents stated the following:

Statement on behalf of Mr. Thomas Markle and Ms. Doria Ragland

On the announcement of their daughter Meghan Markle's engagement to His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales, Mr. Thomas Markle and Ms. Doria Ragland said:

«We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person. To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents.

We wish them a lifetime of happiness and are very excited for their future together.»

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry's brother and sister-in-law, said of the engagement:

«We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.»

From the official Royal Family Twitter account:

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall followed up with another statement:

On the news of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle's engagement, The Prince of Wales, speaking for himself and The Duchess of Cornwall, said: «We're thrilled. We're both thrilled. We hope they'll be very happy indeed.»

The British Prime Minister Theresa May also offered her congratulations:

I would like to offer my very warmest congratulations to HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle upon their engagement.

This is a time of huge celebration for two people in love and, on behalf of myself, the Government and the country, I wish them great happiness for the future.

Considering the fact that Meghan Markle is an American citizen one could perhaps have expected a statement from the White House as well, but I guess that will come later.

The newly engaged couple met the media for a photo call in Kensington Palace Gardens at 2 p.m. today. Four hours later the couple appeared in a broadcast interview. I was most impressed by them both. They seemed to be very much in love and appeared confident and sure of each other as a couple. From different backgrounds, yes, but still seem to be a good match. Yes, she is an actress and has some experience with the media, but still it was great to see how well she handled the interview situation. She will be a great asset to the British Royal Family I am sure.

Meghan Markle was born in Los Angeles, California, USA on 4 August 1981. Meghan has one half-brother, Tom, and one half-sister, Samantha. She went among others to the Catholic Immaculate Heart High School. In 2003 she graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago, where she took theater studies before completing her bachelor's degree in theater and international studies. As an actress she is best known for her role as Rachel Zane in the legal drama series Suits. She has also been involved with charity work and is an advocate for women's issues. She was married to Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013.

There have been some articles already on Ms. Markle's ancestry:

• Daily Mail 4 November 2016: Meet the family! How Harry's American girl's ancestors were a tailor, a teacher and a cleaner in racially-divided Jim Crow South - while his were ruling the British Empire
• Daily Telegraph 18 November 2017: King Henry VIII ordered for Meghan Markle's ancestor to be beheaded

A summary of Ms. Markle's ancestry can be read in the current version of the Wikipedia article about her.

Ms. Markle - an American, an actress, a divorcee and biracial. In late 2016 Elle Magazine republished an article Meghan Markle wrote in July 2015, titled I'm More Than An 'Other', "on creating her identity and finding her voice as a mixed race woman. Personally I don't think the colour of her skin is much an issue in the United Kingdom. She will be welcomed with open arms.

Earlier this fall a good friend of mine from England, Michael Garrard, died, 87 years old. We learnt to know each other from football supporting activities, being fans of Norwich City FC. The last few years we didn't keep in touch as much as we used to earlier, but his last text message, written a few days before Christmas last year, was quite representative of who he was (and of the British people as well, I would think): «I wish Prince Harry would get on with it and marry Meghan. It will make him happy and put UK light years ahead while USA flounders in outdated racism and have elected a maverick president.»

Only a minority would have an issue with her former marriage. Her parents are divorced and she has been through a short marrige herself. This might be a bit worrysome, but every relationship is different. They have both been through long relationships and have hopefully learnt by their mistakes. I have a good feeling for their marriage.

HM The Queen has given her blessings. In accordance with the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, as Prince Harry is currently number five in the line of succession to the British throne, the Queen will also formally have to give her consent in a Privy Council meeting. Most likely the Queen will also bestow upon Prince Harry a ducal title. As of today the title Duke of Sussex seems to the greatest favourite. If he receives such a ducal title, Meghan Markle will have the status as a Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland due to her marriage to a Prince, but will be styled HRH The Duchess of Sussex.

In accordance with the Letters Patent of George V (1917) any children of Harry and Meghan will not be princes or princesses with the style Royal Highness unless the Queen decides to  «upgrade them», as the editor of Peerage News, Michael Rhodes, put it earlier today. This is what happened in 2013 when the Queen issued a Letters Patent where she declared that «all the children of the eldest son of The Prince of Wales should have and enjoy the style, title and attribute of Royal Highness with the titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their Christian names or with such other titles of honour.» She just has to issue another Letters Patent where the words «eldest son of The Prince of Wales» are replaced by «youngest son of The Prince of Wales».

Updated on Tuesday 28 November 2017 at 08.40 (minor addition, some typos corrected).

Prince Carl Philip of Sweden engaged to marry Sofia Hellqvist

The engagement between Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and Sofia Hellqvist was announced today by the Royal Court. The press release read as follows:

Engagement between Prince Carl Philip and Miss Sofia Hellqvist

The Marshal of the Realm is delighted to announce the engagement between Prince Carl Philip and Miss Sofia Hellqvist.

After His Majesty The King of Sweden had given his consent to the marriage between Prince Carl Philip and Miss Sofia Hellqvist, His Majesty requested the approval by the Swedish Government, in accordance with the procedures set out in the Swedish Constitution.

- Sofia has today said yes to the question to spend the rest of her life together with me. Today is a very happy day for Sofia and I, says Prince Carl Philip.

The wedding date has not yet been decided but it is planned to take place during the summer of 2015.

The newly engaged and happy couple met the media for a short press conference and photo session, where we learned among others that Prince Carl Philip had proposed the same morning and that Ms. Hellqvist had been taken by surprise. They had been waiting for this day for such a long time... According to today's press, the couple met in 2009, became a couple in early 2010 and moved in together in 2011. She seems to have been welcomed by the royal family from the start and have attended several royal events, including Princess Madeleine’s wedding in 2012 and Princess Leonore’s christening earlier this month.

From the released CV, today’s newspapers and Dt.se we learn that Sofia Kristina Hellqvist was born at Täby (outside Stockholm) on 6 December 1984, but grew up in Älvdalen in Dalarna. She is the second daughter of Erik Hellqvist and Marie Hellqvist, née Rotman. Her big sister is named Lina, while her younger sister is Sara.

Sofia attended primary school at Älvdalen and the local Montessori school and studied at the high school in Vansbro. I cannot find too many details about her family, but Svensk Damtidning published a survey of her family in no. 14, 2013 (which I haven't read). Erik was born in Denmark and works or has worked at the local post office, while Marie, who comes from Älvdalen originally, used to be an active member of the Liberal People’s Party. I am sure we will get more details and more accurate information later.

According to the information released by the court, Sofia has studied accounting with computer application, specialising in business development, at the Institute of English and Business in New York. Sofia has also studied various courses such as global ethics, child and youth science, children’s communication and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in theory and in Swedish practice at Stockholm University. During her time in New York, Sofia also studied at YTTP, Yoga To The People, to become a certified yoga instructor. She was also involved in setting up a yoga centre. During September and October 2009, Sofia carried out voluntary work in Ghana. She visited orphanages and helped build a centre for women.

In 2010, Sofia founded the organisation Project Playground, together with her friend Frida Vesterberg. Project Playground is a non-profit organisation that helps vulnerable children and young people in areas and townships outside Cape Town, South Africa, primarily in Langa, which is the oldest township in the area. Project Playground strengthens children’s personal and social development via support programmes and organised activities. With a focus on children and young people’s leisure time and the individual, Project Playground creates a safe platform and meeting place with activities and programmes, run by adults that act as leaders and role models. The business has a total of 29 employees (26 in South Africa) and is one of the largest employers in the township of Langa. Sofia is President of Project Playground, and Frida Vesterberg is Vice President.

So far, so good. But the future Princess Sofia of Sweden has a past. Maybe not as wild as many would claim, but there are photos out there, from the time she was a glamour model and participant in a reality show. She surely regrets some of the choices she made when she was young.

The reactions of today’s news have obviously been mixed, as one could expect. You can read comments by the more Catholic than the Pope kind of people who find Ms. Hellqvist totally unsuitable to marry into the Swedish royal family and on the other side comments by the royalty is a fairytale kind of people who believes love conquers everything and nothing else matters. The republicans are always bothered by the cost of the wedding, and then again there are many who wouldn’t care less. If the monarchy falls, it will most likely not be because of Prince Carl Philip’s choice of bride.

Some will regard her as a gold digger and worse, while others prefer to talk about how they met at a party and fell in love. Regardless, the couple made a great impression at the press conference today. It is too early to say what impact the engagement and wedding next year will have on the support of the monarchy. She will most likely grow into her role and perform her duties well. She will be accepted by the majority, while the skeptics will never forget. Sofia Hellqvist seems to be a charming and warm-hearted person who will be of great support to her husband. Those who are critical of the union and want someone to blame, should go after Prince Carl Philip, who by his more or less controversial choice of a woman «with a past» is challenging the bedrock the monarchy is leaning on and exposing the royal house to more criticism and negative headlines. Something the royal house doesn’t really need. It is kind of sad, though. An engagement is supposed to be a celebration not only of a young couple’s love, but also of the monarchy itself. Instead we end up with mixed feelings and debates.

Constitutionally speaking, the king and the government have given consent to the marriage, cf. article 5 of the act of succession, just as expected. The Government gave its approval yesterday by the way. Upon marriage Sofia will become Princess of Sweden and Duchess of Värmland with the style of Royal Highness, and any possible children will be Prince or Princess of Sweden just like their cousins Estelle and Leonore.

Updated on 30 June 2014 at 10.05 (minor corrections about Sofia's parents, link added).

Sweden: Princess Madeleine engaged to marry Chris O'Neill

The Royal Court in Stockholm announced today, 25 October 2012, the engagement between Princess Madeleine, youngest child of King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia, and Christopher "Chris" O'Neill:

Engagement between Princess Madeleine and Mr Christopher O'Neill
The Marshal of the Realm is delighted to announce the engagement between Princess Madeleine and Mr Christopher O'Neill.

After His Majesty The King of Sweden had given his consent to the marriage between Princess Madeleine and Mr Christopher O'Neill, His Majesty requested the approval by the Swedish Government, in accordance with the procedures set out in the Swedish Constitution.

The wedding date has not yet been decided but it is planned to take place during the summer of 2013.

Svante Lindqvist
Marshal of the Realm

The court also published an interview with the couple as well as Chris O'Neill's CV. The latter informs us that Princess Madeleine's fiancé was born on 27 June 1974 in London, England as the son of Paul O'Neill (d. 2004) and Eva Maria O'Neill, née Walter.* His mother has been married four times and has given Chris two half-sisters: Tatjana and Natascha. Chris also has three half-sisters - Stephanie, Annalisa and Karen - on his father's side.

Christopher, who has both British and US American citizenship, but is not seeking Swedish nationality, attended boarding school in St. Gallen, Switzerland before obtaining a bachelor degree in International Relations from Boston University. He also has obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration from  Columbia Business School in New York.

After graduating he has worked in the finance sector, working for firms such as NM Rotschild & Sons and Steinberg Asset Management. Today O'Neill is a Partner and Head of Research at Noster Capital, which is an investment firm with offices in London and New York City. We are also told that O'Neill enjoys downhill skiing, tennis and golf, while among his other passions are music, literature and - of all football clubs - Chelsea FC.

Chris O'Neill's father is from New York originally, but moved to London in the 1960s. He has Irish, Scottish and Italian ancestry, while Chris' mother is Czech/German.

Mr. O'Neill proposed to the princess in early October. The wedding is planned for the summer of 2013. The couple has for now decided to continue living in the United States.

Princess Madeleine was earlier engaged to Jonas Bergström, but the relationship ended in 2010.

Some news articles today:

• Expressen.se: Prinsessan Madeleine gifter sig med Chris (with links to many other articles in Swedish)
• Aftonbladet.se: Madeleine och Chris har förlovat sig (with links)
• Thelocal.se: Princess Madeleine engaged to Chris O'Neill

* Besides the details from the Royal Court, information for this article is gathered from the thread Ancestry of Christopher O'Neill, at Nobiliana.de, sub-forum Ancestry & Descendancy, with contributions by Netty Leistra, Hein Bruins and the signature "Ronald66".

Photo © The Swedish Royal Court/Ewa-Marie Rundquist.

Updated on Friday 26 October 2012 at 14:10 (mistake corrected, see comments section). Last time updated on 13 June 2013 at 15:00 (Eva Marie O'Neill's nationality was earlier presented as Austrian, but now corrected to "Czech/German", cd. Expressen 4 June 2013. Mrs. O'Neill was born in Karlovy Vary in the then Czechslovakia in 1947, but was brought up in Germany).